A few years ago, I used to interview my friends about their
experiences with Video games on my blog. I kind of let the blog fall to the
wayside a bit in recent years but have slowly been putting content back on it
and writing much more in general. I always enjoyed getting people to discuss
their relationship with games in depth and felt like I should try to do
something else like that from time to time.
So this week I thought I’d start up what I hope is a
reoccurring segment of my blog called ‘Let’s chat about film’. Hopefully this
can create some decent discussions about film and enable others to get some
decent recommendations along the way. I
thought I’d start with myself as I did with the previous interview blogs so
forgive me if this sounds a little awkward.
How long have you been into film?
I have always enjoyed films but I would say I didn’t really
get into them until around my early to mid teens. My Dad was always working a
lot so we didn’t get to spend too much time together but when the colder months
came around and he worked less we started to watch movies in the evening. They
were usually actions movies like Terminator 2 or First Blood but they really
got me into certain actors filmography.
From there as I got older, I would try and go to the movies
with friends but found it was an expensive thing to do so I would usually watch
whatever movies I could find on Sky Movies. It was only in the last 6 years or
so that I’d bought a membership card for my local cinema and began to see
movies at least 3 times a week. From there it just expanded to following
certain actors, listening to film podcasts and more.
Unfortunately, I don’t go to the movies as much now but I
still try to follow certain series like the Marvel movies or catch some Netflix
original films if I can.
What was the first movie you remember seeing in the
cinema?
I think it was Disneys Mulan. I remember my Mum taking me
and my younger cousin to see it and being so excited. I don’t know why I was so
excited I think it’s because I’d never been to the movies before that point. I
can’t remember how I reacted during the movie but I remember being SO hyper
after it and saying things like ‘that was amazing’ over and over again and
demanding we go to Mcdonalds as they had Happy Meal toys of Mulan at the time.
I think it’s great that a movie can have that sort of effect
on a child and get them so excited about what they’ve seen. I don’t really rate
that movie too highly anymore but it will always have a place in my heart
because of the way it affected me back then.
What is a cinema experience that really stood out for you?
This is similar to the effect Mulan had on me and I was only
around a year older but It’s gotta be Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.
I remember being friends with the neighbor's kids and they always had old Star
Wars stuff, I was always fascinated by it but couldn’t understand what it was
about and then one day they tell me there is a new one and I’m invited to go
and see it, I was really excited to be able to see what this stuff was really
about!
I remember the scene where Darth Maul turned that lightsaber sideways and showing that it was double-edged and me and my friends just losing
our shit. I think this movie really got me into ‘proper’ films rather than just
animated ones. I’d never seen so much going on at once on a screen and I was
amazed at how it was all put together, so much so I’d watch the ‘making of’
documentary that was on the PS1 game adaptations disc countless times.
I know this movie gets a lot of shit but I’ve always enjoyed
it. Is it as good as the older movies in the franchise? No way, but is it a
great introduction for a child who was around 6 or 7 years old? Absolutely.
What if your favourite Genre of film and why?
I’ve always enjoyed Thriller movies but that can be a wide
range I guess; I think it’s because of the suspense and generally they grip you
within the first 15 minutes. If a form of media hasn’t gripped me that time
frame I usually find it difficult to continue. Some examples I can give are
films like Nightcrawler or Shutter Island.
I really enjoy the Superhero Genre too. It’s a lot better
than it was in the early 2000s and I think we’ve had some real stand out movies
within the genre in the last 10+ years like the obvious The Dark Knight and
more recently Logan.
Do you feel there is an abundance of superhero media
currently?
Well, yeah there are a lot of movies and if you take TV into
account there is a hell of a lot out there to watch. This is not necessarily a
bad thing though, Marvel seem to do this right where yes it’s a Superhero movie
but it’s a Superhero movie in a certain genre. Look at The Winter Solider,
that’s like a solid political thriller kind of movie or Guardians of the Galaxy
is a sci-fi movie etc.
I think if they stick to that sort of model then it can work
well. I like DC too but I feel they are part of the problem in what some
consider an abundance of movies in the genre. They try way too quickly to catch
up to Marvel and as a result released some sub par stuff. They worked well when
they took their time with something like Nolans Batman trilogy and they seem to
be heading back that way with this new Joker movie coming out later this year.
Is there any other form of media you feel would work well
if adapted to film such as a book or game?
I recently read a short book called ‘The Electric State’ by Simon Stalenhag which follows a teenager and her
robot on a cross-country road trip across a post-apocalyptic USA. The book was
really short but featured art by the author that was just stunning. The story
itself was good but I felt there was a lot more to tell about the world itself
so I’d love to see that explored in a movie sometime.
Has a movie ever made you feel uncomfortable?
Yes, Nocturnal Animals is one that stands out in my mind a lot. It's a great movie and really worth watching if you haven't but the movie deals with a lot of tough subjects and doesn't shy away from showing them. I wouldn't want to spoil what happens in the movie but if you know the movie then you can guess what part made me uncomfortable.
It was so bad that I was really squirming in my cinema seat for a lot of the movie, I literally could not get comfortable because of what was happening to certain characters and I kept thinking how I would react if I were in the main characters shoes at that point.
Who is your favourite director?
I think for the consistency of movies from them that I have
enjoyed it has to be Christopher Nolan. I got into his movies with the Dark
Knight Trilogy and they are all fantastic in their own way but since then I’ve
gone back and found that I really enjoy not only his previous work but his
later work too.
Memento for example is such a fantastic movie and is one of
those films you need to watch at least twice, the same for The Prestige which
is a real mind bender. Other than that Inception was pretty good as was
Interstellar but as someone who studied History and University, I really
enjoyed his most recently movie Dunkirk.
I will always have time for his movies, he hasn’t let me down yet.
Who is your favourite actor/actress?
This usually changes a lot for me depending on what films
I’ve seen at the time but at the moment it’s Jake Gyllenhaal. I don’t really
rate Donnie Darko that highly but a lot of his work in the last 10 years has
been great. Nightcrawler, Source Code, Nocturnal Animals and Prisoners are all
some films I’d recommend if you’re into him. He is certainly a guy that has
range and uses his range well, look at him be a super gaunt and creepy,
obsessive guy in Nightcrawler and then see him play two different characters
within Nocturnal Animals that both have you feeling for them in different but
intense ways. It’s hard to explain but watch these movies man.
Where do you see film going in the future?
I would hope that they are still released in the cinema as
some people seem to think the places are dying out (But I mean look how many people
go to see Marvel movies, how can they be?) but I also hope there are more
chances for films to be picked up by streaming services like Netflix. They seem
to allow a lot of smaller Directors chances to work on higher budget movies
like the recent I Am Mother on Netflix.
What is an aspect of film you feel is essential in
helping the movie work well?
I think it’s the score or soundtrack really. With the right
song or piece in the background it can really help sell the feeling of the
character or set the mood for the world that we are viewing. For example you
get pumped when Dual of the Fates comes on in Star Wars or when the soundtrack
of Shutter Island kicks in at certain points you feel the anguish of the
characters.
What is a film you would recommend to somebody and why?
Other than the Jake Gyllenhaal films I mentioned already I’d
recommend Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless mind. There are a few reasons for
this, the story is a bit confusing but a really interesting concept once you
understand it, Jim Carey CAN act in a serious role and more people need to see
that and it’s just one of those movies that really helped me get through some
shitty breakups. If you’ve seen it you might understand why. It’s certainly not a film for everyone but
I’d recommend it if you’re looking for something a little different.
What is the next film you want to see at the cinema?
I think it has to be Spider-man: Far From Home as it’s out
next week and I just adore the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There is a lot riding
on this movie to pave the way for the future of this franchise and I’m excited
to see where they take it next.
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